The Duke de Louie, minister of foreign affairs, to Mr. Harvey, United States minister.

[Translation.]

[407] With reference to the note which you were pleased to address me under date of the 14th instant, requesting that preventive measures might be adopted with regard to the English bark Agrippina, which, according to information, purposed carrying to the Azores a cargo of munitions of war for supplying the confederate cruisers, it is my duty to inform you that the minister of the interior has advised me, in his communication of the 20th instant, as having forwarded, on that same date, to the civil governors of the district of the Azores and Madeira, aportario, of which a copy will be found inclosed.

[Page 75]

By the contents thereof, you will perceive that proper instructions have been furnished to the aforesaid authorities to enable them to thwart the intentions and speculations of all corsairs inimical to the United States.

These same orders may, for greater speed, be forwarded by the corvette Saint Louis, as you propose, and to this end I have the honor of transmitting the same to you to be sent to their destination.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

DUKE DE LOUUÉ.

James E. Harvey, &c., &c.

[408] *[Inclosure.]

Instructions to the governors of the Azores and Madeira.

[Translation.]

[409] The inclosed authentic copy of a note from the minister of the United States of America at this court, having made known that the English bark Agrippina contemplates carrying to the Azores a cargo of munitions of war for supplying confederate cruisers, which are to go there to receive them, in order to continue their depredations on the commerce of the United States in the same manner as the aforesaid bark did before in 1862, in the bay of Angra, and it being further made known that the parties implicated in these nefarious undertakings propose to establish a regular depot in one or more of the smaller ports in the said islands, with the view of organizing therein armed expeditions hostile to the aforesaid United States, His Majesty the King desires that a knowledge of the above be communicated to the civil governor of the district of Angra de Heroismo, and ordains that, taking into his most serious consideration the contents of the above-mentioned note, and the reclamation therein contained, the same civil governor shall adopt all such measures as may be necessary to completely *put a stop to the aforesaid designs and intentions on the part of the enemies of said United States; and for this purpose he is to co-operate with the directors of custom-houses and captains of ports within the district under his charge, so as to act with a mutual accord, to which effect orders, with strong recommendation, have been sent to them through the respective departments. An immediate account is to be rendered, through the department, of all that may be done or put into practice on this subject, with the understanding that His Majesty makes the civil governor and his subordinates responsible for any neglect or omission in such a grave and delicate affair.

DUKE DE LOULÉ.

True copy.

OLYMPIO JOAQUIN DE OLIVERIA.

Department of Foreign Affairs, January 23, 1864.

True copy:

EMILIO ACHILLES MONTEVEBDE.